Free Parrots

[TheFrantom]

RE: Adopting a Parrot
I saw this on another bird site and thought the comments made pretty good sense. Just passing this along...

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Looking for a free or cheap parrot???? Not had any replies back to your chat postings yet? Here are some things to think about.

Rescue organizations are the best places to start if one wishes to adopt a bird. Check out Petfinder, Pets911, other parrot rescue sites on the Internet, listed by state.

Understand that there will usually be "conditions" put on adoptions of rescue birds by rescue organizations. These organizations will want to get to know YOU too. There will be an application and then an adoption contract to follow. There will be a donation per bird. Don't expect a free or almost free bird from them. That is just the way it works. You may or may not be happy with the donation amount, or the rescue's policies. You may or may not qualify to adopt a parrot from that organization either. You can always check out the NEXT rescue organization too.

Parrots from a rescue organization are the most deserving of the best new home and have most probably been turned over because the previous owner cared about the bird, even though they were unable to keep it any more themselves because of its "quirks".

Also, give-away or free birds most probably will have one of these "quirks": will be old, bite, attack, may not be tame, may not be good with kids (or boys, or men, etc..), may scream, may pick their feathers, may have been abused and will always be wild or afraid of you. Or worst case scenario is SICK OR DISEASED.

Remember, there is always a reason why a bird has been dumped off at a rescue organization.

Common sense should dictate that very few owners will "give away" a nice parrot to a stranger they do not know. Most "nice" parrots will be advertised to be sold in the newspaper -- for a specific price.

Please do your research on the species you are particularly interested in too. Example: Amazons and Cockatoos do not make good first bird pets.

Wondering why you have not been contacted after advertising on a chat site that you are looking for a free parrot???? If a parrot owner is giving away their bird, they will most probably check out parrot rescue organizations listed on the Internet before contacting a stranger to take their bird. (Note: EVERY person writes they will "give a parrot a good, loving home"...)

There is so much written about how to choose a reputable parrot rescue organization too. There are reputable nonprofit 501C3's (where the money usually goes for advertising, salaries, rent, utilities, operating expenses before it goes to the birds) and there are also reputable nonprofits without 501C3's (where most probably the money goes for bird upkeep first). However, there are also shyster-mysters listed under BOTH categories too. Do your research first.

What worked out for me is to request WRITTEN client references from that rescue organization if one is unsure who to deal with.

PS: Free birds are few and far between. Plan on having to pay something for a nice parrot. Save your money first. With all due respect, if one can't afford an adoption fee, one most probably cannot afford the upkeep on a parrot either.

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Forum Disclaimer: The opinions posted here are my own, without any reflection or connection to any other person, website, or parrot looking for a new home. "

[jenseits]

Do people really post classifieds advertising that they want a free parrot?

p.s. I'd like a free house, if someone has a well-kept one in a good neighborhood please contact me. I'm very responsible and I'll take good care of it.

[Courtzrocks]

Ditto jenseits...ill have a nice free house if anyone is parting with one. I know the parrot rescue centre here in Queensland has a minimum $60 donation fee for some birds and you have to attend parrot behaviour workshops, have your home inspected and stay in contact with the rescue for at least 12 months after. Also if you can't keep it you have to return it to the rescue. I think that's fair enough.

[Monica]

Some rescues are ridiculous... i.e. no predatory pets (no ferrets, cats, dogs, or reptiles), certain household items not allowd, maybe no kids, must own home, must volunteer for so many hours, must be a foster parent for so many years before adopting... Some things are reasonable, others are ridiculous!

Good article! I see quite a few ads looking for free or cheap pets.... as for the article itself... it really doesn't go into detail that a free/cheap bird may need extensive medical help, costing thousands of dollars possibly, or the fact that it may need a new cage, new toys, etc, which will easily cost a pretty penny... Generally speaking, good birds aren't given away! And people looking to make a buck will demand ridiculous prices for a bird who may not be in the best of health, or living conditions...

[ljhassell]

I agree with Monica 100%! Rescues to me are just as bad as the bird hoarders!
I would NEVER turn a bird over to a rescue, or a "sanctuary" I do not like their policies or demands. We have rehomed 18 and bought 26 from indivduals, the other 2 were parrot shop weaned babies. Now looking into Non- profit status so we can take in and adopt out, hopefully we will keep finding people who really want a bird and all its baggage regardless of other pets and children. Education, and helping, being there to answer and give a hand is what people need when they are at a cross road with a bird.

[Astrid660]

I have never posted looking for a free bird, nor have I really seen any asking. All I've seen is people saying they want a CHEAP parrot, or a reasonably priced one. I agree about rescues - that's what I've seen so far, all they want you to do is jump through hoops to get a bird.... To the point where I refuse to go through that process, and I'm not able to adopt from them.

lhhassell - how loud is your house!? look at all the birds you have!

[ljhassell]

We have moments where you can't think, and moments where a pin could drop and echo's. It balances out, and we have 5 heavy wooded acres to buff some noises.

[Freedomoflight]

Love it. Only thing I can see that I would ad if it were me posting that, is that no bird is ever FREE. Just because the initial investment cost is offset, a free bird will still require toys, cage, medical attention, the best food, etc. I know my 'free' amazon has cost me over 3 grand in medical alone.

[TheFrantom]

Yes, if you check out other bird chat sites now, there are private people who advertise that they are personally looking for a (free-almost free-cheap) parrot. Also, one recent ad now notes that they are a rescue organization, but they want a MACAW for themselves, but they won't pay an adoption fee because they "rescue". I do fail to see what doing rescue has to do with advertising for a MACAW for one's personal self.

Most of those (cheap?) posters do not so much as come right out and say they want a free bird, but it is implied. They will mention that they tried to to adopt from a rescue organization & that it did not work out for them: i.e., they were not approved by a rescue organization or realized they did not qualify.

The common thing that one sees these people advertising is that they have "lots of love to give, lots of time (stay at home moms or retired or disabled), do not have the money to pay for a parrot, or their kid wants a bird for his birthday." They "think" a rescue organization will adopt them a bird free-almost free-cheap parrot out of pity for themselves too. Is there any wonder why a rescue organization will NOT adopt out to that particular person, or any other person they get "bad vibes" from?

There are LOTS of totally valid reasons why a lot of people may not be approved to adopt a bird from a rescue organization. (I was refused to adopt a cat from a shelter once. I did not agree with their thinking. So I got a rescue cat elsewhere a week later, no big deal.)

Yes, there are good -- and questionable -- parrot rescue organizations. There are good and bad people who have a 501C3. There are good and bad people who do NOT have a 501C3 too. (A 501C3 is only an IRS reporting tool. Having this status is highly over-rated, in my opinion. See the IRS site on the Internet for their rules in this regard.)

I do not feel that all bird rescue organizations should be lumped together as being a waste of time to deal with. I think if one really believes in the "rescue" of an animal, one should gratiously count their adoption fee as a donation to that organization for the good work those people are doing. And if you honestly plan on keeping that parrot for the rest of its life, what is the problem with following that rescue's rules for placement?

Why cut a rescue organization down because they are strict in their policies either???? It is a rescue organization's JOB to research the adopter also to make sure that person is qualified to adopt a large bird. That bird may be abused or have been passed around thru several homes in its life so far. Maybe it is about time "someone" cares enough to put "qualifications" on adopting that parrot to make sure that bird is happy in its new home.

If someone can't afford an adoption fee, whatever the amount it is, then that person has no business looking for a parrot in the first place. Parrots are not toys for kids, or trophies to own. Also cheap parrots could also be sick...

A friend of mine once told me that a lot of beginner bird people see a program on Animal Planet and viola! they contact a rescue organization to get one of those "cute birdies that talk and do tricks." When that rescue organization turns them down, for whatever reason, or someone realizes they do not fit the mold to adopt from that organization, then suddenly that particular person posts how horrible dealing with a rescue organization is. That just sounds like "sour grapes" to me.

AND adoption donations ARE totally necessary if an organization (or a person) plans to take in unwanted parrots, vet check them, buy treats and expensive seed mixes for them prior to placing them. Taking in an animal is not like taking in an inanimate object. There is a lot of WORK involved in finding proper homes for birds too. So smile and pay that requested donation. You may be passing up a peach of a parrot!

If anyone chooses to get into rescue out of the "goodness of their heart" and then proceeds to give away the birds they end up with, that rescue person will go broke and will go under in a short period of time. But strangers will get a bargain in a cheap parrot from you! Hooray for them! Go ahead and waste your time if YOU wish to do this. It is all a matter of semantics. If you have a money tree growing in your backyard, then congratulations and a pat on the back to YOU.

I think most of us here are died-in-the-wool long-time parrot owners. We paid full price or maybe did adopt a bird from a rescue organization. Since we already own parrots, we KNOW the ups and downs of parrot ownership. Their care is not cheap.

Rescues are run by parrot owners too. There are reasons why policies HAVE to be established to make sure PARROTS are placed in the best homes possible thru their organization.

One other comment: When one refers to bird rescue organizations as "hoarders" I think that is a little insulting to anyone who has good intentions to want to help save an unwanted animal. The term "hoarding" is misused so often now. Many internet sites define exactly what a "hoarder" really is, so I will stop here....

BTW, a "hoarder" can also be someone who personally owns 10 parrots and 4 dogs too "if" they fit that term's definition......

OK, I am off my soapbox now. So sorry, I guess I just like to take the side of the "underdog"....

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Chat Disclaimer: My comments on this site are of my own opinion. My intent is a friendly chat, to promote the welfare and proper care of parrots, offer helpful bird advice, to alert this site to issues that may result in financial loss, or issues (pro or con) that may arise concerning obtaining, purchasing, or adopting pet birds/parrots. My intent is not to criticize or hurt anyone else's feelings. If anyone thinks my comments pertain to them specifically, I apologize to that person in advance. If you object to my comments, private message me so as not to offend sensitive members on this site. Thank you.